What does it mean to have courage? Courage is a quality of the spirit that enables a person to face difficulty and hardship. Courage presses forward in spite of fear. Biblical courage is a confidence and a boldness to live with integrity according to what we say believe. Courage stands on the Word of God when everything else tries to disarm our faith.
There is a story of courage in the early church. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. ” (Acts 4:13–14, NIV84) The courage was demonstrated by the faith to preach the Gospel of salvation. The courage was demonstrated by the faith to heal. The courage was demonstrated by the disciples sharing their faith with those who opposed and challenged them.
Courage is rare. I watch many churches preach a shallow message because they do not want to risk offending the people attending. I watch people who say they are leaders avoid issues of real life and controversy because they want to please both sides. I watch people who say they are leaders but they lack the courage to deal with sin.
True courage is necessary for those who would be leaders. True courage comes from time with Jesus. Those who persecuted Peter and John took note of their courage and also took note that they had been with Jesus. Courage comes from spending time with Jesus.
When we spend time with Jesus, He gives us the courage to face the sin in our own lives. Jesus gives us the courage to undergo transformation. That same courage enables us to become transformers around us. Because our lives have been transformed, we become empowered to be true leaders full of faith and courage to proclaim the Gospel.
It seems that the courage to preach and the courage to heal the sick is a natural outgrowth of a relationship with Jesus. As I look in my society today I see so many professing Christians who lack the courage to share the Gospel and to give away their faith. Could it be that my society needs to spend more time with Jesus?
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